What Inexpensive Graphing Package Can Plot a Vector Field in Polar Coordinates?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around finding an inexpensive graphing package capable of plotting a vector field in polar coordinates. The specific vector field equations mentioned are $$v_\theta=r+\theta$$ and $$v_\theta=r^{-1}+\theta$$. Participants explore software options suitable for this task, particularly with the goal of importing graphs into a pdflatex file.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant, josh, seeks advice on inexpensive software for plotting a vector field in polar coordinates and mentions using macbook GRAPHER.
  • Another participant suggests several software options including matplotlib, octave, and maxima.
  • A follow-up question asks for personal experiences with the suggested software and their compatibility with pdflatex.
  • A participant shares their preference for matplotlib, noting its ability to export figures in various formats, particularly png, which can be included in latex documents.
  • Another participant introduces gnuplot as an alternative and provides a link to a demo showcasing its capabilities for vector field plotting.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants present multiple software options without a clear consensus on which is the best choice. The discussion remains open with various suggestions and personal preferences shared.

Contextual Notes

Participants do not specify limitations or assumptions regarding the software capabilities or the specific requirements for plotting in polar coordinates.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals looking for affordable software solutions for plotting vector fields, particularly in the context of polar coordinates and LaTeX integration.

member 428835
hey pf!

i have a vector field i would like to plot. it's in polar coordinates. specifically, it's simple like $$v_\theta=r+\theta$$ and $$v_\theta=r^{-1}+\theta$$
i don't have any nice software other than the macbook GRAPHER. can anyone help me or give me advice to an inexpensive package i could use to graph this? ultimately i would like to import the graph into a pdflatex file.

thanks!

josh
 
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there must be quite a few you can use, here are some examples:
matplotlib
octave
maxima
 
have you used all of these? if so, which do you prefer? also, can i import them into pdflatex?
 
I currently use matplotlib. With matplotlib, you can export the figure directly from the figure window into various formats, I typically prefer png, which can them be included into latex.
 

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